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Grading the Jaguars

RICK WILSON/The Times-UnionSafety Reggie Nelson is a picture of cold and dejection during the team's 23-10 loss to Chicago at Soldier Field on Sunday.

RICK WILSON/The Times-UnionTight end Marcedes Lewis, with running backs Maurice Drew and Fred Taylor in the background, is a picture of cold and dejection during the team's 23-10 loss to Chicago at Soldier Field on Sunday.

RICK WILSON/The Times-UnionQuarterback David Garrard is a picture of cold and dejection during the team's 23-10 loss to Chicago at Soldier Field on Sunday.

Rushing offense: C
At least the Jaguars made a better attempt than in recent weeks at trying to establish a ground game. Maurice Drew and Fred Taylor (combined 25 carries, 108 yards) continue to run hard despite not seeing a whole lot of daylight. Taylor had a chance to break a long one on the second series, but he slipped and fell as he was about to dart through a huge hole. Late in the third quarter, needing only 2 yards for a first down, they couldn't even make the yardage despite Taylor and Drew running with three tight ends in the game.
Pass offense: D
The passing game continues to deteriorate and there's plenty of blame to go around. David Garrard's interception on the game's third play set the tone for a bad day. He failed to see safety Danieal Manning coming off his coverage on Dennis Northcutt, and Manning jumped in front of the pass intended for Jerry Porter. Receivers had trouble gaining separation, as evidenced by none of them catching a ball until Reggie Williams' 4-yard reception early in the third quarter. The offensive line allowed three more sacks, running that total up to 14 in the last four games. When you have only 159 yards passing against the NFL's 29th-ranked pass defense, something is clearly amiss.
Rush defense: B+
If there was one aspect of this game at all encouraging for the Jaguars, it was their ability to keep Matt Forte (21 carries, 69 yards) from doing any damage outside of a 26-yard run that set up a Bears field goal. Linebacker Daryl Smith overran the play, leading to the big gain. For the most part, the defensive line was able to get a fairly consistent push to keep Chicago's running game in check. The Bears were held to 86 yards rushing, the third-lowest total this season for a Jaguars opponent.
Pass defense: C-
Hardly a game goes by without the Jaguars giving up big pass plays because of a suspect pass rush, shaky coverage or a combination of both. Bears quarterback Kyle Orton isn't exactly a reincarnation of Peyton Manning and his receiving corps is below average, yet the Jaguars still allowed three huge gainers that kept Chicago comfortably in front all day. Devin Hester caught passes of 31 and 30 yards to set up 10 Bears points. Tight end Greg Olsen's 22-yard touchdown catch just before halftime ruined any hope the Jaguars had of getting back in contention. On the play before, linebacker Justin Durant missed an interception chance in the end zone. Not having injured cornerback Rashean Mathis doesn't help.
Special teams: C-
It looks like all that special teams mojo has gone south along with the rest of the team in the last month. The Jaguars aren't generating much of anything in the return game, but they did allow a 22-yard punt return to Hester that set up a field goal. Once the top kickoff coverage team in the league, the Jaguars have fallen to fifth and gave up a 52-yard return to Manning.
Coaching: D
Whatever the coaches are trying these days, nothing is working. The Jaguars ran the ball six consecutive times at one point, yet failed to convert a first down on third-and-1 or second-and-4 situations. Jack Del Rio continues to say the players are giving full effort, but the ease with which they've been getting beat in the last month suggests otherwise. This team is mired in its worst slump since Del Rio's first season. At least that 2003 squad began to show signs of life late in the season, but there's no indication that will happen soon.